poachedegg Posted March 31, 2008 Author Share Posted March 31, 2008 You cannot beat the gingernut rangers from Omlet. They are very friendly and naughty egg laying machines and ideal for a novice. If however you want some different ones, you are very close to Garden Poultry at Frodsham who have a very good selection of hybrids. In fact it would be a nice trip to go there anyway!!! We are not in the delivery area for Omlet - so am doing my research into other breeds. Thanks for the info on Garden Poultry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superjules Posted March 31, 2008 Share Posted March 31, 2008 My friendliest chook is a silvernick - she's a white hybrid (I think they are the same as Amber stars but not entirely sure) so she'll lay 6 eggs a week most of the year once she gets going. She likes to perch on my shoulder. You've got to get a ginger chook too - I think it's obligatory, if not the law! Then one more, hmmm.....a black coloured hybrid maybe, so they all look different, or a columbine for the blue/green eggs....decisions, decisions!! I love chicken shopping, can you tell?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poachedegg Posted March 31, 2008 Author Share Posted March 31, 2008 My friendliest chook is a silvernick - she's a white hybrid (I think they are the same as Amber stars but not entirely sure) so she'll lay 6 eggs a week most of the year once she gets going. She likes to perch on my shoulder. You've got to get a ginger chook too - I think it's obligatory, if not the law! Then one more, hmmm.....a black coloured hybrid maybe, so they all look different, or a columbine for the blue/green eggs....decisions, decisions!! I love chicken shopping, can you tell?! We would ideally like 3 different coloured ones - we've not picked the chickens yet but have their names: Betty, Doris and Mabel. ** I AM ORDERING THE EGLU TODAY YA! YA! ** UPDATE Just ordered it - scary!! (A Pink one, as they are girls and me and youngest aged 6 luurve pink!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superjules Posted March 31, 2008 Share Posted March 31, 2008 Oooh, how exciting. I love pink too. Looking at garden poultry website, if I had to choose three, I'd go for a golden/red rocket, a columbian comet, then a copper black. It's tough to choose isn't it? I'll have the lot! http://www.gardenpoultry.cwc.net/breeds.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poachedegg Posted March 31, 2008 Author Share Posted March 31, 2008 Oooh, how exciting. I love pink too. Looking at garden poultry website, if I had to choose three, I'd go for a golden/red rocket, a columbian comet, then a copper black. It's tough to choose isn't it? I'll have the lot! http://www.gardenpoultry.cwc.net/breeds.htm I like the Golden Rocket, Copper Black and the Columbian Comet or Sussex Comet.....so virtually snap! Do you know what size these breeds are classed as? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superjules Posted March 31, 2008 Share Posted March 31, 2008 I know some breeders have said that bluebelles are not suited to the eglu, but I don't know if that's just they can't get through the door of a mark 1. My sussex rock is getting big and I think she'd struggle to get in a mark 1. As you are getting a new mark 2 eglu with a bigger door, I'm sure your 3 choices will be fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheshire Chooks Posted March 31, 2008 Share Posted March 31, 2008 They are all average size. Our Sussex Comet, Daisy, is the largest, a white egg layer, the least regular layer, and head girl. Our Sussex Rock, Florence, is the smallest, most timid and the best layer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bellekatz Posted March 31, 2008 Share Posted March 31, 2008 Hello poached egg- have replied to your visit an eglu owner post as well I have Omlet and Non- Omlet hens as well as a pure breed, and they are pretty much the same sizes apart form the leghorn types which tend to be skinny things. Hybrids are generally medium breeds. You can go to Garden Poultry or contact Pimlotts Poultry - they are based miles away but go to farmers markets in the region and will bring ordered birds with them. I picked my latest four up from Abbey Leys Farmers Market ( first sunday of the month) near High Legh. http://www.pimlottspoultry.co.uk/29.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poachedegg Posted March 31, 2008 Author Share Posted March 31, 2008 Hello poached egg- have replied to your visit an eglu owner post as well . Thanks bellekatz for info and visit offer. I think perhaps a visit to an Eglu set up would be best, so I can relate to it better. Offer appreciated thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poachedegg Posted March 31, 2008 Author Share Posted March 31, 2008 Thanks for the information regarding the sizes. I think I will contact Garden Poultry to see if we can visit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redhotchick Posted March 31, 2008 Share Posted March 31, 2008 Hi Poached Egg. I got my chickens from Garden Poultry. It was recommended to me by a friend and came highly commended from other Omlet customers. It was very muddy though, do take wellies or a change of footwear. Lisa was very helpful. She recommended that if I liked 2 in the same shed that it would be a good idea as they would settle down straight away. I did take that advice. I got 2 and had already decided I wanted a black one and a red one. If you go the Omlet Gallery and search for redhotchick you should be able to find pictures of my girls there. I have to say the little ginger one (Dolce) is noticeably smaller, more friendly and tamer than the black one (Bella). Bella's eggs are pale beige and weigh between 40 to 47g and Dolce's are quite brown and weigh between 52 to 59g. This might be an individual hen thing as opposed to a breed thing and may change anyway. (I'm not sure as quite new to this myself!) Somewhere on the Omlet site there is a page showing the difference between the Mk1 and Mk2 Eglus. Bigger door and more ventilation being the main things I think. My 2 girls only get let out of the run evenings and weekends. If I was having 3 I would want at least the run converter giving an extra metre length, but you will probably be ok if your girls are mostly free ranging. I really think I am going to have to get some netting of some description, to keep them from digging up my veg patch! The Omlet netting looks great but I'm currently looking round to see if I can get anything as good for less money. If you are making a day out of getting your hens (I did with my boyfriend and my mum ) There is a nice pub not too far away. Here is the website. http://www.thegoshawk.co.uk/ Garden Poultry have an Eglu and a Cube on display (at least they did when I visited) and also have a nice little stall selling vegetables and eggs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poachedegg Posted April 1, 2008 Author Share Posted April 1, 2008 Thanks for the info redhotchick very useful - do you have to make an appointment to visit Garden Poultry or can you just turn up? What did you bring yours home in? PS Bought myself some leopard print wellies the other week - how glam am I?!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rolo Rabbit Posted April 1, 2008 Share Posted April 1, 2008 1. As we are going to have a permanent site for the Eglu,is it better to have it on a soft base (soil) or hard (flags) or does it not make any difference? Hi Poachedegg! I'm not sure if anyone has answered this bit yet so I will. We decided to put down paving slabs because we know we have rats in the vicinity who would love to tunnel in. I was a bit concerned that the chooks would prefer to have soil but in fact they seem perfectly happy and spend all their time scratching around in the sawdust. We were going to put down Hemcore (that you've probably read about) but we couldn't get hold of it in time so we got dust-extracted sawdust and it's been great. Bet you can't wait til you get your girls!! I nearly burst with excitement for the last few days but it was so worth the wait. Watching them pottering around in the garden brings us all so much pleasure. And then there's the eggs...!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jules. Posted April 1, 2008 Share Posted April 1, 2008 PS Bought myself some leopard print wellies the other week - how glam am I?!! Bring them with you on Thursday!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hen Watch Posted April 1, 2008 Share Posted April 1, 2008 Definately go for 3 - all different colours - lovely. What gets a bit confusing when you buy chooks, is all the breeders/agents give the same type of chicken their own name. Makes it harder to compare like for like. For example the Bovans Nera is the Omlet Miss Pepperpot and the Meadowsweet Ranger is the Omlet Gingernut Ranger. Take a look at this, it's quite useful. http://www.omlet.co.uk/files/public/omlet_guide_buying_chickens.pdf But from personal experience, I knew I wanted a hybrid, went to the agent fully armed with info from their website and the kids fell in love with something else....typical. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poachedegg Posted April 1, 2008 Author Share Posted April 1, 2008 .What gets a bit confusing when you buy chooks, is all the breeders/agents give the same type of chicken their own name. Makes it harder to compare like for like. For example the Bovans Nera is the Omlet Miss Pepperpot and the Meadowsweet Ranger is the Omlet Gingernut Ranger. Take a look at this, it's quite useful. http://www.omlet.co.uk/files/public/omlet_guide_buying_chickens.pdf Well I didn't know that, I thought they were all different breeds - that is extremely useful - thanks Hen Watch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redhotchick Posted April 1, 2008 Share Posted April 1, 2008 Hi Poached Egg, I e-mailed Lisa beforehand she said they are open 10 til 4 everyday. I used a cat basket. I had it already, both fitted in easily. You could use a strong cardboard box, but cut big air holes in it. Once they are in semi darkness they should travel without getting stressed. Some dodgy reports about Garden Poultry on here, I have nothing to compare them with but my experience has been fine so far (in my 7th week) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poachedegg Posted April 1, 2008 Author Share Posted April 1, 2008 Some dodgy reports about Garden Poultry on here, I have nothing to compare them with but my experience has been fine so far (in my 7th week) In what way dodgy? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redhotchick Posted April 1, 2008 Share Posted April 1, 2008 Sorry not explained myself properly. "Dodgy". Someone said that they had a bird with an infection that died. (But they conceded it may have changed hands since then?) Someone else said it was so muddy that the chickens didn't get let out and were kept in the sheds all day. I saw chickens out, but my hens were inside. I don't know whether they were always in, or if it was so that they could be easily caught for selling? As I say, I have nothing to compare Garden Poultry to, I never went anywhere else. My personal experience of dealing with them was excellent. There are recent threads for Pimlotts Poultry and Garden Poultry with links to both of their websites. I think you just have to go with whichever feels right to you, and is convenient. I think I would consider getting some bantams in the future, and I would like chickens that lay blue or green eggs. Size of egg doesn't bother me so much, I actually quite like little 40g eggs Good luck! When are you thinking of getting them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poachedegg Posted April 1, 2008 Author Share Posted April 1, 2008 I have been in email contact with Karen from Pimlott today and have decided to go with them. The Eglu comes Tuesday, however OH has to lay some extra slabs before we can 'build' their area - he's quite busy at the moment so will probably be another week or 2 yet before we actually get them however have got a visit to Jules on Thursday morning to see her Eglu I've done a lot of research and reading on the forums and am excited, but now I've ordered and made proper enquiries about chickens I'm getting a little nervous now!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emma L Posted April 1, 2008 Share Posted April 1, 2008 Hi We got ours from Garden Poultry at the weekend - it was very muddy and most of the hens were inside but the hatch was open, I think they were just trying to keep dry in the torrential rain! Our hens seem fine (though we're obviously still learning!!) and Lisa was really nice, said to call her if we had any problems (and didn't mind answering my newbie questions!) The girls haven't had their wings clipped and they're not wormed so we need to sort that out (though they have had their vaccinations). I have had such fun getting to know my girls, they've been taking rice and mixed corn from my hands when I go to say hello to them before bed, they're brilliant. Can't wait till I can have a proper cuddle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poachedegg Posted April 1, 2008 Author Share Posted April 1, 2008 Hi Emma L, Glad to know everything is going well. Sounds like your chickens are taking to you already!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emma L Posted April 1, 2008 Share Posted April 1, 2008 Just seen your post Poached Egg, you must have done it while I was doing mine - don't be nervous, you'll be so pleased when you get your girls home. I was quite worried when we picked them up, I thought it was going to be really hard and time consuming but so far it's been great and there are loads of good books out there - plus all the eggsperts on this forum to help us! Enjoy and make sure you post some pics when your girls arrive!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emma L Posted April 1, 2008 Share Posted April 1, 2008 They're still a bit nervous, but I'm sure they'll be ok in a while. Gladys is particularly adventurous and looked like she was plotting an escape when I had the run door open tonight to feed them, whereas Fanny is much more shy, she's quite reluctant to come to see what I've got. They weren't impressed with the cherry toms I gave them yesterdaym they picked the seeds out and ignored the flesh!!! Love them already though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redhotchick Posted April 1, 2008 Share Posted April 1, 2008 Speaking of wing clipping..... I was quite nervous about it, and convinced they were going to fly over the fence as soon as we let them out! in the end I've decided that mine don't need it. Some hens are more flighty than others, (lighter breeds I believe?) mine don't get more than a foot off the ground. Dolce runs very fast across the garden flapping her wings giving the impression of flying, but she isn't. Very cute. Poached Egg, Where did you get your leopard print wellies please? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
